Brimbank Council has received a $25,000 grant to support a targeted cat desexing program, aimed at addressing high levels of pet surrenders.
The Targeted Cat Desexing (TCD) program focuses on desexing semi-owned and unowned cats in low-socioeconomic areas, which contribute significantly to high rates of impoundment, euthanasia, and nuisance complaints.
By offering free or low-cost desexing, the project aims to increase desexing rates, reduce impoundment and euthanasia over the next two to five years, and improve cat welfare and registration rates.
Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said the funding will alleviate strain on animal shelters.
“This targeted cat desexing program supports local councils to provide free or low-cost desexing programs which will help to manage the overpopulation of cats, while reducing the strain on our state’s animal shelters,” she said.
Second Chance Animal Rescue chief executive Marisa Debattista said “one of the main reasons people don’t desex their pets is because they can’t afford it. These grants make cat desexing more accessible for vulnerable community members.”
RSPCA Victoria’s chief veterinarian Dr Bronwyn Oke said there are a surprising number of benefits that come with getting your pet desexed.
“Desexing your pet is a relatively simple surgery that actually has number of additional benefits people don’t know about,” she said.
“Desexed animals are generally less likely to get diseases such as urine infections, mammary and ovarian diseases in females and perineal hernias, testicular and prostate cancer in males.
“It’s simple – if getting your pet desexed wasn’t good for them, we wouldn’t do it.”
The grant will also encourage community members to take full responsibility for cats they feed, through registration, vaccination, and microchipping, promoting a shift from semi-ownership to full ownership.
With approximately 227,000 registered cats in Victoria, this program is designed to address the overpopulation problem and change community behavior through education.
The funding is part of a broader effort to improve cat welfare, reduce stray populations, and ensure a more sustainable approach to animal care in councils like Brimbank.
For more information on the program, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au or email pet.welfare@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
